Top of the Block Sandwich Shop — Restaurant in Burlington

Top of the Block has been my #1 deli forever...until today :( I ordered a grilled chicken Caesar wrap no tomatoes. Waited about 18 minutes for it, not a big deal it was busy, but the staff looked a bit lost and was kinda bumping into each other. My sandwich was finally done and the cashier puts it in a bag for me and I ask "no tomatoes right?" He uncrumbles my order slip and tells me I should have requested that when I ordered. I explained that I did because I'm allergic, I always make sure to. He hollars over to one of the women there (actually the one that took my order) and says "no tomatoes right?" She looks at me and says "so sorry I forgot, I can fix that." The cashier goes over and they are both now pulling the tomatoes off my sandwich and I say "I'm allergic, you can't just pull them off." The woman says, "it'll be a bit but I can make you another." I've now been there almost 30 minutes so I said "I can't wait I'll just give it to a coworker, can I get my bag with my chips in it?" The cashier hands me my bag and whispers "next time you come in we can..." and his voice trails off so I ask "what" and he says "next time you come in we can talk about it." I say "talk about what" and he whispers "well you're not happy and it was our fault so we would want to talk about it and make sure next time you are happy."

OK, so I've now used my entire lunch break to get a $12 sandwich I can't eat and all this kid wants to do for me is "talk about it?" For real dude? Customer service rule #1 APOLOGIZE. He could have offered me half off my next sandwich or literally anything and I would definitely be going back. I've been going there for 15 years +. Instead, he let me walk out very unhappy so I could walk into my company (with 28 people listening) and offer up a free sandwich that I paid full price for and can't eat. They could have offered me a slice of plain bread and I would have been happy to have something to eat.

Long story short (too late I know), life is too short to give good money to food establishments that no longer care about their loyal faithful customers. I'm hungry and now very grumpy in an office filled with people that also frequent Top of the Block (or...

Let’s start with the ordering system, which feels like it was designed out of stupidity. You wait, and wait, and then as someone takes your order, you’re immediately redirected five feet to the cash register like you’re on some bizarre sandwich obstacle course. Like ever heard of efficiency? No? Might be worth a Google.

Once you've paid your $14 ransom for a wrap and soda (yes, fourteen dollars), prepare yourself for another long intermission—this time while watching your food take an absurd 15 minutes to assemble. That’s right, two employees in full view, one other customer waiting, and still, the pace of a DMV line during a printer jam. You’d think they were curing prosciutto in the back.

Now let’s talk atmosphere, and I use that term loosely. Signs scream “No Restrooms” like a cruel joke in a food-serving establishment. Isn’t that a health code red flag? But then again, nothing says “Bon Appétit” like the charming sidewalk scene outside where Church Street has devolved into a public toilet and an open audition for Law & Order: Burlington Victims Unit. Try enjoying your limp wrap while watching someone drop a deuce ten feet away.

Top of the Block serves overpriced mediocrity in a dystopian street-side setting with the efficiency of a Soviet bread line. Save your money, your time, and possibly your dignity by going...

I stopped here just after 1 on Monday. I waited a very long time for my order. Many people who had ordered after me where long gone. Eventually I approached the young lady who had taken my order. Apparently there had been a mix up and they would get to making that sandwich right away. My wife would have been proud of my patience. I was too, but the whole time I waited I believed the staff had it under control. This was not there first rodeo..... so I just hung in there. I've also come to believe that when I encounter long lines at places like this there's a reason. When my sandwich was finished the young lady approached me. Graciously, embarrassed, she and and another gal insisted on paying for lunch. Roast beef w/cheddar, pickles onions and horseradish mayo on grilled sourdough. It was delicious. Well worth the wait. It was a Monday, these things happen. ...